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Howard County, Maryland public records

In Howard County, deeds are recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County - Land Records Department; property values come from the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, Howard County Office; court files are split between the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County and the Register of Wills for Howard County.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Voter records
  11. Good to know about Howard County records
  12. Office addresses, phones and hours
  13. Records that are not online: public records requests
  14. Questions people ask
  15. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  16. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsClerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County - Land Records Department4Search deeds2Free search$0.50 per page (Maryland circuit court clerks)3
Property values and ownersMaryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, Howard County Office5Property search4—
Property tax billsHoward County Department of Finance5Tax bill search5—
Court casesClerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County - Civil6
Register of Wills for Howard County7		Circuit Court for Howard County8
District Court of Maryland8		Circuit court copies $0.50/page; certification $5 + $0.50/page (statewide)3
Marriage recordsClerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County - Land Records Department4——
Divorce recordsClerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County - Civil6——
Birth certificatesHoward County Health Department - Vital Records Office9—$25.00 per birth certificate (county health department)9
Death certificatesHoward County Health Department - Vital Records Office9——
Probate and willsRegister of Wills for Howard County7Search probate cases10—
Business names (DBA)Statewide: Trade names (DBAs) are filed statewide with SDAT, not with counties11——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Howard County are recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County - Land Records Department.4

Online search
landrec.msa.maryland.gov2Free search
Cost
Free (account required)2
Copy fee
$0.50 per page (Maryland circuit court clerks)3
Certified copy fee
$5 each + $0.50 per page3
Recording fee
$10 release (9 pages or less); $20 other instrument 9 pages or less (or any principal-residence instrument); $75 for 10 pages or more; plus $40 surcharge on most instruments4
How to order
Self-research at Land Records (or online via MDLANDREC); the Clerk does not perform title searches4
Recording steps
Deeds first go to the County Department of Finance Recordation Tax Office (3430 Court House Drive) for county taxes and lien certification, then to Land Records12

How deeds work in Maryland

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Howard County Office sets property values5; the Howard County Department of Finance (real property tax; recordation and county transfer tax) bills and collects the tax5.

Appealing a value
Assessments are set and appealed through SDAT (local office 410-480-7940)5

How property tax works in Maryland

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Circuit Court for Howard CountyJury trials, juvenile, family law (divorce), serious criminal, complex civil; appeals from District Court and Orphans' CourtClerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County - Civilcasesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch8
District Court of Maryland (Howard County)Landlord-tenant, replevin, motor vehicle violations, misdemeanors and certain felonies—casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch8
Orphans' Court for Howard CountyWills and estatesRegister of Wills for Howard County (clerk to the Orphans' Court)—
Fees
Circuit court copies $0.50/page; certification $5 + $0.50/page (statewide)3
Courthouse
Circuit Courthouse opened in 2021; houses the Circuit Court, Clerk of the Court and Register of Wills13

How Maryland courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County - Land Records Department.4

Marriage license fee
$50.00 (cash or credit card)14
Certified copy
$5.50 each, from the Marriage License department (in person or by mail)14
Ceremony
Civil ceremony $25.00, by appointment14
Phone
410-313-585014

Divorce records

Kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County - Civil.6

Which court
Divorce (family law) cases are heard in the Circuit Court; decrees from the Clerk of the Circuit Court15

Birth certificates

Kept by the Howard County Health Department - Vital Records Office.9

Fee
$25.00 per birth certificate (county health department)9
Coverage
Maryland births after 1939 at the county office; earlier births through the state Division of Vital Records9
Who may order
Adult: the person named or their parents; child: parents or legal guardians9

Ordering a Maryland birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the Howard County Health Department - Vital Records Office.9

Access
Death certificates from the county health department are issued to funeral directors only; others use the state Division of Vital Records9

Ordering a Maryland death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Register of Wills for Howard County (clerk to the Orphans' Court).7

Finding a will or probate case in Maryland

Voter records

Howard County Board of Elections (voter registration)16

Good to know about Howard County records

  • The Circuit Courthouse opened in 2021 and replaced the county's 175-year-old historic courthouse13
  • Since July 1, 2019 the county transfer tax (1.25%) is paid to the Howard County Director of Finance, not the Clerk12
  • Howard County health department death certificates are issued to funeral directors only9
  • Only one party needs to appear to apply for a Howard County marriage license; non-residents may apply by mail14

Office addresses, phones and hours

Clerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County - Land Records Department

Address
Land Records Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 1900, Ellicott City, MD 210434
Phone
(410) 313-5850 (Land Records/Licensing)6
Hours
Recording services 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.4

Clerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County - Criminal/Juvenile

Address
9250 Judicial Way, Ellicott City, MD 210436
Phone
410-313-3822 (Criminal and Juvenile Departments); clerk's office main line 410-313-211117
Hours
8:30 AM-4:30 PM6

Clerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County - Civil

Address
9250 Judicial Way, Ellicott City, MD 210436
Hours
8:30 AM-4:30 PM6

Register of Wills for Howard County (clerk to the Orphans' Court)

Address
Circuit Courthouse, 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 1100, Ellicott City, Maryland 210437
Phone
410-313-2133; toll free 888-848-01367
Hours
8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday7

Howard County Department of Finance (real property tax; recordation and county transfer tax)

Address
Department of Finance, Cashier's Office, 1st Floor, 3430 Courthouse Dr, Ellicott City, MD5
Mail
Howard County Maryland, PO Box 3370, Ellicott City MD 21041-3370 (payments without coupon)5
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM except county holidays5

Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Howard County Office

Address
Supervisor of Assessments and Taxation, Howard County Office, District Court Multi-Service Center, 3451 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City MD 210435

Howard County Health Department - Vital Records Office

Address
8930 Stanford Blvd, Columbia, Maryland 210459
Hours
Birth certificates walk-in Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.9

Howard County Board of Elections

Records that are not online: public records requests

Where to send it
[email protected]; Department of County Administration, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043; 410-313-430518

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Howard County?

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County - Land Records Department keeps deed records. To order copies: Self-research at Land Records (or online via MDLANDREC); the Clerk does not perform title searches. Plain copies: $0.50 per page (Maryland circuit court clerks). Certified copies: $5 each + $0.50 per page.43

Can I search Howard County land records online for free?

Yes. Free (account required). The official search: landrec.msa.maryland.gov2

How much is a birth certificate in Howard County?

$25.00 per birth certificate (county health department).9

How much does a marriage license cost in Howard County?

$50.00 (cash or credit card).14

How do I look up who owns a property in Howard County?

Use the property search of the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Howard County Office: sdat.dat.maryland.gov/…4

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Howard County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties and independent cities in Maryland with a full guide: Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Calvert County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Charles County, Frederick County, Harford County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, St. Mary's County, Washington County, Wicomico County. Every county and independent city in the state: Maryland county and independent city list. Looking for another Howard County? Howard County, Indiana.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 19 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  2. Land Records (Court Help)Maryland Judiciary
  3. Circuit Court fee summary scheduleMaryland Judiciary
  4. Circuit Court for Howard County - Land RecordsMaryland Judiciary
  5. Real Property TaxHoward County Department of Finance
  6. Circuit Court for Howard County - Clerk's OfficeMaryland Judiciary
  7. Register of Wills for Howard County
  8. Court RecordsMaryland Judiciary
  9. Birth & Death CertificatesHoward County Health Department
  10. Estate Search FAQMaryland Registers of Wills
  11. Md. Code, Corporations and Associations § 1-406 (trade names)Maryland General Assembly (Department of Legislative Services)
  12. Recordation TaxHoward County Department of Finance
  13. Circuit Courthouse InformationHoward County Government
  14. Circuit Court for Howard County - Marriage License InformationMaryland Judiciary
  15. CourtsHoward County Government
  16. Howard County homeHoward County Government
  17. Criminal/Juvenile Department & Expungement, Circuit Court for Howard CountyMaryland Judiciary
  18. Maryland Public Information ActHoward County Government
  19. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau